Trauma Therapy
Life happens to all of us. We walk through it according to the atmosphere we have around us. When bad things happen, our body is changed and becomes more protective of itself and its environment. This can look like: not wanting to get close to others, arguing to be heard, wanting to stay in bed to avoid life, etc. There is a part of our brain called the amygdala that governs protection. This part of the brain is responsible for fight, flight, or freeze responses. I call it our "Fear Button". When our Fear Button is activated, for whatever reason (parents arguing when we were children, a traumatic accident, being sick, etc.), our body releases chemicals to start the self-protect mode. If our body is in a state of self-protect (the Fear Button is short-circuited “ON” ), we could have headaches, stomach aches, pains throughout our body, feel on-edge, treat other people in ways we regret later, want to be left alone, and so on. Our goal in trauma therapy is to help the Fear Button flip from “ON” to “OFF” and see what triggers our body to feel we have to protect ourselves.
Attachment Therapy
From the age of conception to approximately 8 years old, our brain is forming significant neuropathways, which are patterns for life in the future. At this time of our life, our body and brain are keeping score of safety. Is this world safe? Do I belong? Is there a point to life? We also figure out how we fit in the world around us during this important informative time. So, if there is any break in bond during this time, our highways in our brain could be named: I Have To Protect Myself Road, Authority Is My Enemy Lane, I Have To Perform to Be Loved Boulevard, and so on. If we have any negative pathways in our brain, then the people’s actions around us are doomed to fall into this already grooved out road.
There is a way to close down this neighborhood of dysfunction and move to Healthy. We do this by paying attention to constant patterns that the client portrays. For example, “I can’t trust anyone,” “I have to do this right, no matter what!” “Everyone’s an idiot,” are examples of negative pathways that need to be healed.
Our staff at A Healing Path are trained and ready to use our healing tools to assist you or your child in this effort of noticing the patterns that you do not want to be in control of your life and creating the life you desire.
See Children and Teen Therapy if your child had a broken bond and needs healing.
Children and Teens Therapy
At A Healing Path, we offer trained clinicians to teach, guide, and facilitate healthy patterns for each youth enrolled in treatment. We understand the importance of health as the child’s brain develops. We also understand that we live in an imperfect world that can prevent a child from developing like we desire. If a child has a broken connection with a paren, or has been hurt in any way (from sickness to emotional wounds), then they are not behaving and/or feeling their potential.
Our desire is for each individual we work with to enjoy life and have fun. This can not be the case if the youth is feeling the need to protect him/herself due to the past issues he/she has experienced. The clinicians know that negative patterns in the brain can be created at any time. Children not have to remember the event for their body to store negative pathways in their brains that tell them to not trust, protect themselves, you’re alone, etc. These pathways can stop a child/parent relationship from being healthy and peaceful. We also know if a child’s relationship with a parent is strained, it is very likely that once grown, this person will have struggles in other core relationships. We believe it is best and easiest to get help as a child so that the foundation of life can be healthy and strong.
Anxiety and Depression Treatment
Do you have a heaviness inside of you that pushes you down? Do you have cycles of thoughts that feel defeating? Do you feel like life is not safe or there is no benefit to it? Do your relationships struggle and you’re tired of trying?
Anxiety and Depression feels like it’s an enemy that cannot be defeated, like there’s no hope for joy- they are just too huge. The reality is different. We understand that there are chemical and historical reasons for this diagnosis. We encouragingly walk alongside clients that suffer from these oppressive symptoms and guide them with support from medical professionals, and tools in our clinical toolbox. We’re here to help you along A Healing Path.